Medellin Counts Nearly 700 Foreigners Among People Living On Its Streets
Medellin has identified nearly 700 foreigners among the people living on its streets, including two citizens of Switzerland, one of the world’s wealthiest countries. The city’s social inclusion office released the figures this week while outlining efforts to help some foreign nationals return to their home countries. The numbers form part of a much larger […]
Medellín, a city in Colombia, has identified nearly 700 foreigners among the people living on its streets, according to figures released by the city's social inclusion office. The Swiss pair is noteworthy, as they are one of only a few foreigners from wealthy countries such as Switzerland, Cuba, Russia, Argentina, and Turkey in Medellín's street population.
The city's official count of street-dwelling individuals stands at 8,142, while the ombudsman office estimates the total could be as high as 15,000. Foreigners comprise less than 9% of the official count, with Venezuelans and Ecuadorians making up the majority. The Swiss nationals' nationalities were disclosed, but no further personal details were provided.
The city's broader effort to address homelessness targets drug use, untreated mental health issues, and broken family ties. Medellín conducts a voluntary return program for foreigners, with 488 transfers carried out so far, and the Swiss nationals' participation in the program remains uncertain.
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